Rare 1902 gold Veldpond coin to be auctioned at Bassani's Auction House

TOMORROW, collectors and history enthusiasts will be excited as the "Pilgrims Rest Coin," officially known as the 1902 Gold Veldpond, takes centre stage at Bassani’s Auction House in Johannesburg.

- STAFF REPORTER

This rare coin, struck in the wilderness of the Mpumalanga region by Boers fleeing British forces during the Second Anglo-Boer War, is revered as the 'holy grail' of South African coins, and this auction presents a rare opportunity for numismatic aficionados.

Landon Coleske, a representative from Bassani’s, said, “the 1902 Gold Veldpond that we have up for bidding is an uncirculated (MS61) and valued at R450 000”.

The coin, created on a makeshift press and hidden away from British sight, carries a rich history that exemplifies South Africa’s tumultuous past.